There are quite a few different peppers on the market, but not all are suitable for a pepper mill. Read below to find out which grains are available and which are suitable for the grinding mechanism of a pepper mill!
Grains of the ' Piper nigrum' plant
The Piper nigrum plant is responsible for several peppercorns you often encounter, namely black, white, green, and red pepper. The processing method gives the grains different colors and uses. Below is an overview of the different grains:
| Type | Suitable | Explanation |
| Black pepper | Very good | Hard, firm grain with little residue |
| White pepper | Good | Hard, firm grain with more residue |
| Green pepper | Moderate | More brittle grain, which is disadvantageous during grinding |
| Red pepper | Bad | Few suppliers can properly dry the grain without it becoming moldy. Often, it's dried for a shorter period, meaning the grain isn't hard enough to be ground properly. |
Other peppers
There are also other peppers from other plants. These are all less suitable for grinding in a pepper mill, but we'll explain them briefly:
|
Type |
Suitable | Explanation |
|
Pink pepper |
Bad | Too soft. When combined with black pepper, the grinding is better, but still mediocre. The grains stick to the grinder. |
|
Tailed pepper |
Bad | Because of the tail on the pepper, fine grains don't always come out, and the grain is a bit stickier. This causes blockages. |
|
Long pepper |
Bad | The pepper blocks the grinding mechanism by crushing it rather than breaking it. |
|
Chili pepper |
Bad | For chili peppers, choose a special grinder made for chili, as this will allow you to grind it. |
Grain size
For our mills specifically, we recommend setting the grind setting from medium to large. The smaller settings are especially useful for salt. The mill grinds pepper a bit faster at a medium to large setting and, in our opinion, delivers the best flavor!
Conclusion
In summary, black and white pepper are the best to grind. If you do want to grind other peppers with a pepper mill, it's recommended to mix them with white or black pepper. However, the grinding mechanism will need to be cleaned more often. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of which pepper is best for your pepper mill, so you can effortlessly perfect your dishes in the kitchen!
